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What is required to start an engineering career?
I am looking to pursue an engineering career. Let's take electrical engineering as an example. How many years of study is required to have a job in the field? Are there any non-math or science classes one needs?
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William’s Answer
Hi Isaac!
It may take you up to 4 academic years with foundation year. It might take up to 5 years with foundation year and 1 year industry experience. About 3 years is required to obtain a first degree if you have a foundation qualification already, but it may vary based on college.
You may qualify as professional engineer by taking vocational education or apprenticeship training, but it might take longer.
You are required to obtain a practice licence.
You may do non math courses like general studies (e.g history, languages), law (e.g contract law or arbitration), business management, project management, professional practice and procedures and other theory based courses as you study engineering.
Your course advisor or curriculum guide from your college may help you further. You may check the course structure or course modules in the department for your chosen major on your school website.
It may take you up to 4 academic years with foundation year. It might take up to 5 years with foundation year and 1 year industry experience. About 3 years is required to obtain a first degree if you have a foundation qualification already, but it may vary based on college.
You may qualify as professional engineer by taking vocational education or apprenticeship training, but it might take longer.
You are required to obtain a practice licence.
You may do non math courses like general studies (e.g history, languages), law (e.g contract law or arbitration), business management, project management, professional practice and procedures and other theory based courses as you study engineering.
Your course advisor or curriculum guide from your college may help you further. You may check the course structure or course modules in the department for your chosen major on your school website.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Isaac
Dan Wolf
Retired Electrical/Software Engineer and part-time College Professor (BSEET and MS Engineering Management)
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Updated
Dan’s Answer
I will suggest the following for electrical engineering:
Before College: good math foundation, interest in electricity and electronics, curiosity about how things work, interest and passion for science.
After College: Your classes will provide you the technical skills that you need to start work. Ability to learn on your own. People skills.
An engineering degree always requires a four-year diploma. Much better if it is an ABET accredited university. Typically, you may also be required to take at least one Social Science and one Humanities class. Two-year associate and technical school degrees do not make you an engineer.
Knowledge of software with at least one programming language would be extremely helpful for a pure EE (hardware) degree however there are variations of the EE degree and minors that you may choose so additional software classes may be included. For example, Computer Engineering (CE) is a mix of hardware and software.
While you are still in High School, you should keep taking math and science classes. You may also be able to take a college level/credit class at your local community college. These give you actual college credits and provide early exposure to higher level topics.
Google "electronic projects" where you will find much information on projects that you can do yourself. If they seem like fun to you then you have the "interest and passion for science" that is mentioned above.
Engineering is fun and is a great career with good pay, benefits, and stability.
Before College: good math foundation, interest in electricity and electronics, curiosity about how things work, interest and passion for science.
After College: Your classes will provide you the technical skills that you need to start work. Ability to learn on your own. People skills.
An engineering degree always requires a four-year diploma. Much better if it is an ABET accredited university. Typically, you may also be required to take at least one Social Science and one Humanities class. Two-year associate and technical school degrees do not make you an engineer.
Knowledge of software with at least one programming language would be extremely helpful for a pure EE (hardware) degree however there are variations of the EE degree and minors that you may choose so additional software classes may be included. For example, Computer Engineering (CE) is a mix of hardware and software.
While you are still in High School, you should keep taking math and science classes. You may also be able to take a college level/credit class at your local community college. These give you actual college credits and provide early exposure to higher level topics.
Google "electronic projects" where you will find much information on projects that you can do yourself. If they seem like fun to you then you have the "interest and passion for science" that is mentioned above.
Engineering is fun and is a great career with good pay, benefits, and stability.
Thank you for your advice!
Isaac
Updated
Sayantan’s Answer
A background in Mathematics, Physics is needed. In case you are interested in Chemical engineering, a background in Chemistry is needed
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Isaac
Updated
Peter’s Answer
A job in engineering usually requires a 4-year college degree in the selected engineering field. Physics, math and general engineering courses are taken in your Freshman and Sophomore years. You then take courses in your selected engineering field during your Junior and Senior years. To get into a good engineering college, I recommend that you take at least three years of science courses and four years of meth courses during high school.
Mail a couple of engineering schools for information on their entrance rqts. and their degree course rqts.
Peter recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Isaac
